Discover the latest retail trends at Money Motion, the biggest CEE FinTech conference.
Cards have taken over cash. In the past decade alone, the share of cash transactions in the eurozone has dropped from 79% to 52%. Once upon a time, we counted coins at checkout, swiped our cards, cleaned magnetic strips, and struggled with chipped debit cards. Today, more and more people don’t even bother reaching for their wallets when it’s time to pay. Instead, they scan their loyalty card on their phone and then tap the device on a POS terminal to complete the transaction via a mobile wallet.
We’ve simplified the process – for ourselves as consumers and for retailers. Whether physical or digital, card payments are faster, easier, and, at the end of the day, simpler to track through mobile banking and loyalty apps. While loyalty programs first appeared on the market about two decades ago, their real boom is only happening now. Market projections indicate that their biggest impact is yet to come. European retailers are increasingly incorporating loyalty programs into their growth strategies, while continuous inflation is motivating consumers to use them to reduce costs.
This major shift has established a new dynamic between consumers and retailers, making data on shopping habits, consumer needs, and priorities more valuable than ever. Personalized offers, point collection, exclusive discounts, and various gamification models have become an everyday experience for many.
How does the FinTech industry fit into this transformation? How are leading tech, card, and payment companies collaborating with retail brands? These are just some of the key questions that will be answered by top industry experts at the third edition of the Money Motion conference. Taking place on March 27–28 at the Zagreb Fair, the conference is organized in collaboration with leading regional industry brands ASEE, Monri, Mastercard, OTP banka, A1 Hrvatska, Croatia osiguranje, and LAQO. Read on for a sneak peak of what’s in store for MoMo2025.
“One in ten POS transactions in Croatia in 2024 was made via a digital wallet instead of a physical card. This data, sourced from Monri’s payment traffic analysis, clearly indicates that mobile wallets are no longer just a passing trend – they’ve become an essential part of modern payment solutions. Digital wallets will be one of the hottest topics at this year’s Money Motion conference.
I’m also excited that, for the first time, we’re welcoming key players from the retail sector to open up a dialogue on how digital and innovative solutions can enhance the customer experience – not just in payments, but in optimizing retail operations as well,” says Robert Penezić, co-founder of Money Motion and a board member at Monri Payments.
One of the leading retailers joining the Money Motion stage this year is Studenac, Croatia’s fastest-growing and most widespread retail chain. On the retail panel, Nina Mimica, Board Member and Chief Innovation and Digitalization Officer at Studenac, will join other experts to discuss how smart data collection and management are creating real value for customers, employees, and the long-term growth of the company.
“I’ve been following Money Motion for two years now, and it’s exciting to see the event continuously raising the bar for business gatherings. This year, I’m especially pleased to see the program expand further, allowing the retail industry to share its experiences and best practices.
At Studenac, we strongly believe in the power of digitalization and data analytics. Not just for optimizing operations but for directly impacting revenue and profitability. Through high-quality data collection and analysis, we make key decisions – from personalizing customer offers to strategically expanding our network. For example, advanced analytics tools help us decide where to open new stores, ensuring each location is tailored to community needs and strengthens our unique neighborhood store concept,” says Tatjana Spajić, Director of Corporate Communications at Studenac.
Nexi Group, Europe’s leading PayTech company, which collaborates with over 2 million merchants and processes 1.5 million transactions daily, agrees with this sentiment. As one of the industry’s key brands and leaders, Nexi has been a proud supporter of Money Motion for the third consecutive year.
“Thanks to technology and innovation, our favorite stores have become experts at understanding our needs. Personalized recommendations based on past purchases, special offers and discounts appearing just when we need them – these are all ways retailers ‘read’ us like an open book. Every visit feels as though the store knows and values our preferences. There are also apps that notify us about new products and trends tailored to our tastes. In this way, shopping has evolved into a true partnership,” says Renata Devčić, Head of Merchant Solutions and Marketing at Nexi Croatia.
For startups looking to introduce new solutions in consumer and payment trends, applications for the Money Motion Startup Competition are open until the end of February. The winners will split a prize pool of over €50,000. The top ten teams will pitch their solutions in front of a jury consisting of six industry managers, mentors, and investors on the first day of the conference, with the winners announced at the end of day two.
Currently, Early Bird tickets are available for €250, granting access to the full two-day conference program and evening networking events. The discounted rate is available until the end of the month, after which regular ticket sales will begin in March.
For more details about the conference, visit the official Money Motion website, and secure your ticket via the Entrio platform.
